Kentucky Derby 2020 Radar: Ajaaweed changes course

Conspicuously absent Saturday as post positions were drawn for the March 21 Louisiana Derby (G2) was Ajaaweed, a graded stakes-placed colt who figured to enjoy ralling in a race newly elongated to 1 3/16 miles.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed, however, that he and owner Shadwell Stable have decided on a different spot “just with everything going on in the world,” namely the spread of COVID-19 that has allowed racing to continue, but behind closed doors to the public.

“We decided to stay home,” McLaughlin added of rerouting Ajaaweed to the March 28 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

A Curlin colt, Ajaaweed finished second in the Dec. 7 Remsen Stakes (G2) before running third most recently in the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3). The deep closer will now match up with the likes of Tiz the Law and Ete Indien, impressive winners of Gulfstream’s prior preps on the 2020 Kentucky Derby trail.

Ajaaweed is expected to post his final Florida Derby week on Friday at the Palm Meadows Training Center.

The Florida Derby offers McLaughlin's training career a chance to go out with a bang. At the conclusion of Gulfstream’s Championship Meet, he’ll transition to serving as agent for jockey Luis Saez.

McLaughlin said the events of this week — with a number of racing industry participants busted for allegedly doping their horses — haven’t changed his mind. Most of McLaughlin’s hardship within racing originated from labor laws in New York, where a number of horsemen have been investigated over wager and hour violations.

“I’m going to move on,” McLaughlin said. “I’m excited to work for Luis.”

Should Ajaweed run first or second and punch his ticket to the Kentucky Derby, the colt would likely go on to Churchill Downs as a member of the Todd Pletcher barn, as Shadwell will be transferring McLaughlin's runners there upon his career change.